Category Archives: Resistance Bands

Working the Band (4/27-5/3)

May 3, 2014 Kim 36 Comments

This week’s 44s were all about using this little band –

Since I was in Texas for the first part of the week, this was a perfect tool to use! And, all of my pictures were taken either Thursday or Friday morning after I was home – I did the moves on the actual day though!!!

Sunday 4/27 –44 bicep curl with a lunge (hold the other end of the band up over shoulder for extra resistance.

And, of course, I had to do a 2nd set of 44 with my left side.

I also did Turbo Fire Tone 30 which is 30 minutes of full body toning using bands.

Monday 4/28 – 44 tricep kickbacks in plank.

These were challenging – to try and keep my body straight, hold plank with one arm and do 44 kickbacks with resistance!!! And, I had to do a 2nd set!!!

I did TaeBo Fat Blasting Cardio (another portable workout!!) and a nice easy 30 minute run (probably only 3 miles).

Tuesday 4/29 – 44 lateral raise with opposite side leg lift.

ready to raise right arm & lift the left leg

I love moves that work on balance!!! And, I try to stay balanced so I had another set of 44.

The rest of my workout was TaeBo Insane Abs (50 minutes of nonstop core work!) and a super easy 50 minute run (about 5 miles).

Wednesday 4/30 – 44 abdominal presses with the band.

This move will definitely get your core burning!!!

I just did a 75 minute easy run (7.5-8 miles).

Thursday 5/1 – 44 squat with bicep curl (band crossed for extra resistance).

Can you tell that I was all about multi-functional exercises for the week?

Since I was back home on my treadmill I decided to do a harder run – 10 miles in 79:54 + 1.5 miles easy.

Friday 5/2 – 44 overhead press with opposite leg stepping back to a lunge.

Another move that required a 2nd set!!!

This move was hard – gotta keep working my shoulders!!!

It was also a run day – 6 miles in 47:52 + 2.5 easy miles.

Saturday 5/3 – 44 sumo squat with a chest fly (standing).

ready - choke up on the band — ready – choke up on the band

Right arm done – time for the left!

Today was a fun running day – Hunter’s long run! He had 95 minutes on the schedule. We kept our 5 minute run/1 minute walk and ended up with 10 miles in 93:40!!! Even with the walking he is still averaging 9:22 a mile (the same pace he had last week when we did 9 miles!!). He is doing such a great job with his training for the half marathon!

Total Running – 41.5 + 4.5 easy for a total of 46. Not sure that is great since one week from today I plan to run further at one time than I went all week – I think I’m ready though!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Fitness, Resistance Bands

No Excuses – We Can Always Make Time to MOVE!!!

May 2, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

I’m not a fan of excuses when it comes to working out!

I think that exercise/activity is something we can all fit into our days if we really want to. There is no need for fancy equipment or hours and hours – it is just a matter of making a choice to MOVE YOUR BODY!!!

When I travel, I love bands like these –

one or more - small and portable! — one or more – small and portable!

They don’t take up much space or add any extra weight in a suitcase. They are great for toning moves (on Saturday I will show all the moves I did this week using a band for my daily 44).

You can combine moves for a full body workout or just do a couple of moves.

If you only have a few minutes, you can still get your heart rate up – Tabata is a great choice. In as little as 4 minutes you can really push yourself.

Burpees – one of the greatest moves ever!!! Cardio, toning, hard, fun = burpees!!! Think you don’t have time to workout? Just do a few burpees – you will know that you made an effort and feel much better!!!

So, the next time you think you don’t have the time or space to workout – do some burpees or a tabata, grab a resistance band – just spend a few minutes and you will feel much better all day long!

What is your go-to move when you don’t have much time or space to workout?

Happy Friday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Resistance Bands

37 Miles of Running (and it was GOOD!!)

February 1, 2014 Kim 72 Comments

Today’s 44 was a fairly simple move but definitely one that works a lot of muscles. I took my resistance band and put the loops on my feet then pulled the middle up to my chest.

Actually I put my upper body closer to the ground (but not on it)

can you tell that my back is not on the ground?

From this awkward position, I did flutter kicks with my legs.

switch (this picture is actually more of a motion shot!!)

(Drill weekend makes it hard to get pictures – Chris leaves early and the boys are still sleeping!!!)

The move was great for working my abs (entire core actually) and my hip flexors which are a little bit sore from yesterday. I counted a right leg down and left leg down as 1 rep.

Yesterday morning after a poor night of sleep thanks to an incredibly loud crash at 2:05 am and time spent wandering through the house to try and find the source, Chris found out what it was when he left at 5:30 am. See the patch job on that fence?

Well, the fence was put up a couple of years ago to surround a generator of some sort that the city/county/someone put in our yard (for the entire lake neighborhood). Anyway, the generator is pretty damaged right now thanks to someone crashing into the fence and it at 2:05 am Friday morning – kind of scary!!!

The morning continued by throwing another curveball into my plans. Hunter came upstairs with a nosebleed (he gets them fairly often) and this was the kind that wouldn’t stop. Poor boy!! His nose bled from 6:30 until about 7:30. We usually leave at 7:20 for school and he hadn’t even been able to eat breakfast.

So, I took Jordan and came back for Hunter (the middle school and high school are pretty much side-by-side and start within 10 minutes of each other). The worst part for Hunter was the fact that his team (they have teams at the middle school) was leaving at 8:30 to go to an elementary school for READ Day. Thankfully he was better when I got back home so I took him to school (he ended up having another nosebleed when he got there but made it to his class by 8:25!!).

I started my run a little later than I had planned to but it all worked out!!!

Plenty of time to watch movies/DVRed TV while running 37 miles – I watched You Again (with Jamie Lee Curtis), What to Expect When You’re Expecting (super cute), finally watched Sean & Catherine get married on The Bachelor Wedding (it was very awkward at times!!!), and the latest episode of Dance Moms!!!

And just a short 5 hours and 23 minutes later, this happened!!!

not just 23 minutes (it flipped 3 times!!)

This was truly the best mega run I’ve had in a long time. I ran the entire way (no walking) and other than achey knees and sore feet, I felt strong for all 37 miles!!!

I’m glad that I did the virtual race – I know that the entry fee went to a good cause and it was fun to think about Kristin doing the same distance out in CA (we actually ran almost the exact same time – she was a minute faster in 5:22) plus it was good for my long distance running mojo!!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Resistance Bands, Shoulders